Tremendous pressure
 
A state of Environment Report on the city of Hyderabad brought out in 1996 clearly showed the tremendous pressure on the resources, as well as the available facilities in the city. Sewage, water supply, or availability of open spaces - all fall much short of the actual demand. Data for other towns and cities in the state are not available. However, the report of 1996 on Hyderabad city is a microcosm of the urban environmental status in the state.

We could put them in six categories :

I Water scarcity and water pollution.

II Air Pollution

III Climate and Heat Island Effect.

IV Poor Management of Solid wastes.

V Urban Congestion.

VI Urban deforestation

Let us briefly look at the causes which have led to the deterioration and the present situation vis-a-vis the problems.

Water Scarcity and water pollution

Availability of water : Scarcity of water due to fall in groundwater levels - conversion of surface water bodies - dependence on high cost solutions to bring water from far off places and towns - reduction in net annual precipitation.
1.
 Water Pollution : Rapid fall in water quality in some lakes, from all types of effluents and in Musi river.
2.
 Air Pollution : In several pockets in the twin cities of Hyderabad and Secunderabad air pollution caused mainly by vehicles. This is characterised by an increase in the number of old and polluting vehicles and those with two stroke technology, the two and three wheelers.
3.

Climate and Heat Island Effect : The change in land use and density of buildings is the main cause.

4.

Poor Management of Solid wastes :
* Ill-planned disposal of solid wastes in many areas is contributing to the spread of diseases. This has also led to proliferation of stray dogs and mosquitoes with potential for diseases.

* Hazardous waste and bio-medical waste is getting mixed with other solid material in dumpsites and elsewhere since scientific and modern waste management is not in place.

5.

Increasing urban congestion : As the population shot up, there is increased demand on land. This has resulted in loss of greenery, open spaces and agricultural land on the one hand, while on the other there is an increase in the number of slums which cannot be countered only by in-site measures.

*Regularising occupation of open spaces, by the state compounds this problem.

6.

Urban deforestation : Mindless cutting down of trees has already caused irreparable damage to our environment. In the name of growth, trees have been cut down and park space converted into domestic and commercial areas. Urban afforestation needs to be taken up as a top priority programme, to help turn concrete jungles into better places to live in. This would provide the much-needed lung space for our dying cities.

 
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